Month: September 2020

“I can’t talk about my brother’s …

“I can’t talk about my brother’s headspace,” Kostas continued. “I don’t think he’s ever been to the point of (wanting to leave), but obviously everybody has had a hard time in here. He just had a son, and he misses his son a lot. So he’s thinking about him every day, but when he gets an opportunity to hold him in his hands, teach him how to walk and stuff like that. “So he knows that that’s important to him. But he also knows that what he’s trying to accomplish with his team is important to him too. So I feel like he’s in the right headspace, and it’s gonna be alright.”

It was Heat president Pat Riley, same …

It was Heat president Pat Riley, same as he ever was, lording from on high in what was his first in-person Heat game of this postseason. “Appreciate you!” Butler said as he saluted to the mask-wearing Riley and pointed in his direction. “You’re making my dreams…” Riley fired back before heading out with Heat general manager Andy Elisburg. It takes a lot to impress Riley, who has coached dynasties and built Super Teams and generally doesn’t bother with anything less than absolute excellence.

The card was originally pulled out of a …

The card was originally pulled out of a pack of Panini America’s 2013-14 high-end “National Treasures” line … and features the NBA “Logoman” patch from one of Giannis’ rookie jerseys. It’s a 1-of-1 card — so, it’s super rare — but the fact it was graded a MINT 9 by the Beckett Grading Service makes it even more desirable for hardcore collectors.

Anthony Tolliver, his Pistons teammate …

Anthony Tolliver, his Pistons teammate from 2016 to 2018: We’re actually business partners now. I brought him in on a deal that I was doing called BigBlanket.com, and of course, he’s the perfect spokesperson for it. We had a photo shoot at my house actually earlier this year, and, yeah, he’s literally the perfect person for that. Patty Mills, his Spurs teammate for the 2015-16 season: (I introduced him to) the word Bala, which means brother in my language. I played against him whenever it was, the under-19 world championships, that was probably 2006 or so. I’ve kinda known him playing international at the junior level, and seeing him around.

Casey sent a text message Monday to the …

Casey sent a text message Monday to the Detroit Free Press paying his respects to Thompson. “He was a pioneer for African American Coaches,” Casey wrote. “He was one of the first coaches who fought for social justice. He fought for us as coaches. I remember when I was fighting the NCAA he stood up for me at a National Coaches meeting. Every time I would see him I would thank him! He came to numerous practices when I took my Toronto teams to Georgetown University to practice at his practice facility. He always had colorful advice. He was a man’s man!!! What you saw is what you got! We as African American coaches, all coaches are indebted to ‘Big John!’ RIP.”

Matthew Stafford, Kenny Golladay make it onto ESPN’s top 100 players

The Lions get two players on the predicted top 100 list from ESPN

ESPN has revealed its prediction for the top 100 players of the upcoming 2020 NFL season. Only two Detroit Lions made the cut: Matthew Stafford and Kenny Golladay.

Stafford is the top Lion, as expected. The longtime franchise QB checks in at No. 52 overall. His outstanding first eight games of 2019, before he injured his back for the second season in a row, and the promise of playing in Darrell Bevell’s offense for another year have the analysts at ESPN giddy over Stafford’s potential. As Mike Rothstein notes,

Darrell Bevell’s offense, which allows Stafford to use his arm strength for downfield throws, and Stafford’s better decision-making, honed from his years with Jim Caldwell, set the veteran QB up perfectly for a big year.

One of Stafford’s primary targets, Golladay makes an appearance at No. 76 overall. The NFL’s reigning TD receptions leader is looking to build upon a year where he proved himself one of the league’s preeminent downfield weapons,

Thirty-four percent of Golladay’s receptions gained 20-plus yards in 2019, the best rate among 71 players who recorded 50-plus catches.

A full season with Stafford at the helm in Bevell’s offense could launch Golladay well above the 76th ranking prediction here.

Four teams, the Jets, Football Team, Dolphins and Bengals, did not land a single player on the top 100 list.

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LSU WR Ja’Marr Chase officially opts out, explains decision

Chase has officially opted out of the 2020 college football season.

Last month, Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley became the first high-profile player to announce he was opting out of the 2020 season due to concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.

LSU All-American Ja’Marr Chase, through his father, originally indicated he would be playing this fall.

That all changed on Sunday when it was reported that Chase would indeed opt out of the upcoming season and begin preparations for the 2021 NFL Draft.

Just like that, LSU lost its best offensive player and the top wide receiver in the country.

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Chase took to his Twitter account on Monday to let fans know he would have preferred if they heard the news from him first.

Later on Monday evening, Chase released a statement reflecting on his time in Baton Rouge and the importance of wearing the LSU jersey, specifically No. 7.

Chase is expected to be one of the top players selected in the 2021 NFL Draft.

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Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh Pirates odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Tuesday’s Chicago Cubs at Pittsburgh Pirates sports betting odds and lines, with MLB betting picks, tips and best bets.

The Chicago Cubs (20-14) begin a three-game set against the NL Central-rival Pittsburgh Pirates (10-22) Tuesday. First pitch at PNC Park is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET. We analyze the Cubs-Pirates betting odds and lines, with MLB picks and best bets.

Cubs at Pirates: Projected starting pitchers

LHP Jon Lester vs. RHP Chad Kuhl

Lester: 2-1, 4.55 ERA, 1.200 WHIP, 22 K, 5 BB, 16 ER, 31 2/3 IP, 6 starts

  • Gave up four home runs and eight earned runs in a loss to the Chicago White Sox Aug. 21, but bounced backed to allow only a single earned run last Wednesday against the Detroit Tigers.
  • Has a 1.13 road ERA through three starts and 16 total innings as a visitor.

Kuhl: 1-1, 2.52 ERA, 1.080 WHIP, 20 K, 11 BB, 7 ER, 25 IP, 4 stars (2 relief appearances)

  • A 4.0 BB/9 and 1.8 HR/9 don’t bode well against a Cubs team walking in 11.4% of plate appearances and with a .196 team ISO.
  • Has a 1.42 ERA at home through two starts and a relief appearance.

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Cubs at Pirates: Key injuries

Get the latest injury news here.

Cubs

  • 3B Kris Bryant (wrist) questionable
  • OF Steven Souza Jr. (hamstring) questionable

Pirates

  • RP Keone Kela (forearm) out
  • OF Bryan Reynolds (paternity leave) out

Also see: BaseballHQ Fantasy Baseball

Cubs at Pirates: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips

MLB odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full list. Odds last updated at 9:24 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Cubs 7, Pirates 3

Moneyline (ML)

The CUBS (-162) are the clear and easy pick Tuesday. They’re coming off a 10-1 win against the Cincinnati Reds Sunday and the offense will make quick work of Kuhl, who has a boatload of regression headed his way due to the awful walk rate. The Cubs are atop the NL Central while the Pirates (+145) toil away in fifth, as expected coming into the season.

The Cubs swept a three-game set at Wrigley Field a month ago. The Pirates covered the spread in two of the three games and two of the three played to the Under. Expect better from the Chicago offense with Bryant likely to make his return.

New to sports betting? A $10 bet on the Cubs (-162) to win returns a profit of $6.17.

Run line/Against the spread (ATS)

There’s a much better profit margin to be had on the run line when backing CUBS -1.5 (-110). The Pirates are not a good team and Kuhl is off to a much better start than he deserves with a 2.52 ERA but 4.98 xFIP that’s more indicative of his control struggles.

Lester was able to bounce back against the lowly Tigers last time out and should be able to go deep into Tuesday’s game to spare bettors from the dreaded Cubs bullpen.

Over/Under (O/U)

Take the OVER 9.5 (-110). Even if Kuhl is able to hold his own, both teams will be able to score a bunch of runs late against bullpens ranked in the bottom 10 of MLB by ERA.

Esten’s MLB betting record: 30-32

Want some action on this game? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting tips and advice, visit SportsbookWire.com. Please gamble responsibly.

Follow @EstenMcLaren on Twitter. Follow SportsbookWire on Twitter and Facebook.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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Giants Joe Judge on his critics: No time for sunshine and rainbows

New York Giants head coach Joe Judge addressed his critics on Tuesday and offered no apologies for his approach to leadership and coaching.

Joe Judge has faced a relentless avalanche of criticism in his early months as head coach of the New York Giants, much of it stemming from his perceived militant-like style of leadership.

Judge has his players and coaches running laps when they mess up, he won’t let players discuss their injuries publicly, he removed names from the back of player jerseys and he’s remarkably blunt.

That has rubbed some outside the organization the wrong way.

Judge doesn’t care.

“I’m doing everything in my own personality. I am not trying to imitate or emulate anybody,” Judge said during a Tuesday appearance on Keyshawn, JWill & Zubin. “It’s got to be genuine and it’s got to be sincere. You know how it is — if you lie to the players you’re going to lose them forever because they’ll see right through that.

“So I’m me and I think our players have a pretty good feel for who I am. I’m pretty straightforward with those guys. I don’t have a lot of time to mix fluff and try to make everything all sunshine and rainbows. I think that it’s my responsibility to tell them the straight truth so they can work on improving what they have to and we can get better as a team.”

While those outside of East Rutherford have spent their time expressing a critical opinion of what’s going on with the Giants, no one on the inside of East Rutherford has.

On the contrary, Giants players have offered up nothing but praise for Judge and the way he approaches coaching and how he develops one-on-one relationships with each member of his team. And in the end, their opinions are the only ones that carry any weight.

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